The effect of psychological factors on Syrian refugees’ participation in lifelong education

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of psychological factors on Syrian refugees’ participation in lifelong education. The ex post facto co-relational causal design was employed in this research. A questionnaire form consisted of four scales was used to collect data from 297 refugees participated in lifelong education. The structural equation modeling analysis revealed that psychological factors affect participation in lifelong education and learning approaches played the biggest role in this effect. It was claimed that learning approach is a strong predictor of participation in lifelong education. The effect of locus of control on participation in lifelong education was medium while the effects of self-efficacy and self-worth were weak. Recommendations to education providers, decision-makers and researchers to align both formal and lifelong education curricula with the results were given

To complete or not complete : Student persistence in post-secondary education online courses

Many factors influence learners\u27 decisions to complete or drop out of online learning courses in higher education where learners\u27 persistence is considered critical to the success of the higher education institutions. This review examines recent literature on the relationship between learners\u27 perceived Sense of Community (SOC), Social Presence, Satisfaction, and Participation and Interactions in distance education courses and learner persistence. Over 30 peer-reviewed studies published in academic journals within the past ten years were selected for critical analysis. Results are mixed and while many studies imply relationships between various learner and institution characteristics and student persistence, significant correlations are often lacking. Given the increasing popularity of on line education in higher education, identifying the characteristics of both successful students and of successful online learning environments warrants further investigation

The After Times: College Students’ Desire to Continue with Distance Learning Post Pandemic

Distance learning, already a topic of interest among higher education administrators and faculty, took on new significance during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic when face-to-face classes worldwide abruptly shifted online. Many students who had never taken classes online had to either engage in distance learning or withdraw from their classes. An interesting question arises from this situation: will these students continue to take classes online when circumstances no longer require them to do so? In this paper, we investigate factors that may influence college students’ intentions to continue with distance learning once they no longer have to do so. We developed a model based on social cognitive theory and social cognitive career theory and tested it using data from surveying 525 college students who took distance learning classes. Results indicate that personal and environmental factors drive intentions to continue with distance learning through their impact on distance learning perceived performance and satisfaction. We discuss our findings’ implications for practice and future research

Strengths-based analysis of student success in online courses

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2017The purpose of this research was to increase understanding of post-secondary student success in online courses by evaluating a contextually rich combination of personal, circumstantial, and course variables. A strengths-based perspective framed the investigation. Mixed-method data were collected and analyzed sequentially in three phases: two phases of quantitative collection and analysis were followed by qualitative interviews and comprehensive analysis. The study first used logistic regression to analyze existing data on more than 27,000 student enrollments, spanning a time period of four academic years. The second phase of research enhanced the modeling focused on a subset of the total population; students from a single semester were invited to complete an assessment of non-cognitive attributes and personal perceptions. Between the two phases, 28 discreet variables were analyzed. Results suggest that different combinations of variables may be effective in predicting success among students with varying levels of educational experience. This research produced preliminary predictive models for student success at each level of class standing. The study concluded with qualitative interviews designed to explain quantitative results more fully. Aligned with a strengths-based perspective, 12 successful students were asked to elaborate on factors impacting their success. Themes that emerged from the interviews were congruent with quantitative findings, providing practical examples of student and instructor actions that contribute to online student success

Students' experience with online simulation games: From computer anxiety to satisfaction

It is currently of great importance to analyse the experience of the application of new technologies in teaching. This research paper examines the personality traits of students and their environment, which may influence the experience of college students using online simulation games. Previous literature suggests that individuals may feel anxiety when using the computer, which may vary according to their perception of being able to control the situation, their perceived importance of the activities and any prior knowledge that they have. Therefore, the first objective of this research is to analyse the relationship between computer anxiety, locus of control and perceived importance of the computer activities. The second objective is to examine whether this relationship is moderated by knowledge. The third objective is to identify user clusters to examine which factors are most important to explain user satisfaction with online simulation games. Results showed that students experience greater computer anxiety when the situation is perceived as important and the locus of control is high, being these effects moderated by their previous knowledge. Moreover, a cluster analysis threw light on the existence of cluster of users whose satisfaction mainly depends on their game score. These results have implications for both academic and research purposes

Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction, Autonomy Support, and Mindsets as Predictors of Self-Regulation in University Online Learners

Problem In contrast to more traditional learning environments, it can be difficult to see and hear both the instructor and, more crucially, the students when engaging in online education. This has been one of the most common criticisms leveled against online education for a long time. The COVID-19 disruption and transformation of online learning in higher education underlines the fact that variance among online learners in terms of academic success and psychological well-being are determined by the level and quality of self-regulation. What is the degree of self-regulation among American university students who study online because of the COVID-19 pandemic\u27s impact, and what variables might affect or perhaps predict this level of self-regulation? Purpose of Study The purpose of the present study was to test a theoretical model that explains how autonomy support, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and mindsets predict self-regulation among university online learners in the United States. Based on the model fit and direct effect results of the first research hypothesis, the second research model was developed to examine the mediating effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction on the relationship between autonomy support and self-regulation, and whether mindsets could moderate the indirect effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction on the relationship between autonomy support and self-regulation. To assess the data, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed. Method This study used quantitative analysis of non-experimental survey data collected via Alchemer. A model-testing design was used to examine a theoretical model which proposed that basic psychological needs satisfaction (autonomy, competency, relatedness), autonomy support, and mindsets predict online learners\u27 self-regulation. 1257 people in all completed the survey. The number of complete and valid participant responses was a sample of 404. Excel, SPSS version 26, Mplus version 8.3 were used for data analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was adopted as the main statistical technique. Results The first research model of this study hypothesized that autonomy support, basic psychological needs satisfaction, and mindsets predict university online learners’ self-regulation. Analysis of the data indicated that the first hypothesized research model fit the data (X2=464.364, df=200, Normed Chi-Square=2.231, CFI=0.925, TLI=0.913, RMSEA=0.057, SRMR=0.053). The path analysis indices of model one suggested that autonomy support positively affected university online learners’ basic psychological needs satisfaction (b=0.82, p\u3c0.001). Basic psychological needs satisfaction positively affected self-regulation (b=0.44, p\u3c0.001) and mindsets positively affected self-regulation (b=0.23, p\u3c0.001). Overall, research model one explained 44.2% variance of online learners\u27 self-regulation. The model fit indices showed that the second hypothesized research model fit the data (X2=378.398, df=146, Normed Chi-Square=2.259, CFI=0.921, TLI=0.908, RMSEA=0.063, SRMR=0.050). A significant mediator effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction was found between autonomy support and self-regulation. The results indicated that the conditional indirect effect of autonomy support on self-regulation via basic psychological needs satisfaction was significant both when the mindsets score was high (which suggests growth mindset orientation) (β=0.216, 95% CI [0.098, 0.316]) and when the mindsets score was low (which suggests fixed mindset orientation) (β=0.150, 95% CI [0.031, 0.250]). Conclusions Applying SEM technique for data analysis, the model fit indices showed that the first hypothesized research model of this study fit the data and explained 44.2% variance of university online learners\u27 self-regulation. The path analysis indices of model one suggests that basic psychological needs satisfaction and mindsets play a predictive role in self-regulation among university online learners whereas autonomy support could not be used as a predictor of self-regulation among university online learners. In addition, the path analysis indices of research model one indicates that autonomy support and basic psychological needs satisfaction could not be used as a predictor of mindsets among university online learners whereas autonomy support could predict basic psychological needs satisfaction as suggested by the theoretical framework. A significant mediator effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction was found between autonomy support and self-regulation. Furthermore, the results of the second research model indicate that the conditional indirect effect of autonomy support on self-regulation via basic psychological needs satisfaction was both significant when the mindsets score was high (which suggests growth mindset orientation) and when the mindsets score was low (which suggests fixed mindset orientation). The difference (though not significant) between these two slopes suggests that the mediation effect of basic psychological needs satisfaction on the relationship between autonomy support and self-regulation was slightly stronger when the mindsets score was higher indicating a growth mindset

Exploring college students’ continuance learning intention in data analysis technology courses: the moderating role of self-efficacy

IntroductionIn today’s digital economy, data resources have gained strategic recognition. Enterprises view data analytic capabilities as a core organizational competitiveness. This study explored factors influencing college students’ continuance learning intention in data analysis technology courses to inform the role of self-efficacy on the relationship between interactivity and continuance learning intention.MethodsThe research model underpinning the study was based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response model and flow theory. The model was validated using SmartPLS. A total of 314 valid questionnaires were collected via the standard online survey approach.ResultsAmong internal factors, study results showed both cognitive interest and self-efficacy had significant positive effects on continuance learning intention. Also, cognitive interest had a significant positive effect on self-efficacy. Among external stimuli, content quality, software quality, and interactivity had significant positive effects on self-efficacy. Software quality did not have a significant effect on cognitive interest. Importantly, self-efficacy registered a significant moderating role on the relationship between interactivity and continuance learning intention

Toplumsal Yeteneğin Öğrencilerin Uzaktan Eğitim Algıları Üzerindeki Etkisinde Akademik Kontrol Odağının Aracılık Rolü

2019 yılının Aralık ayında Çin’in Wuhan şehrinde ortaya çıkan Covid-19 virüsü, kısa süre içerisinde tüm dünyayı etkisi altına alarak pandemi haline dönüşmüştür. Bu süreçte ülkelerin eğitim sistemleri pandemiden etkilenmiş, birçok ülkede eğitim, uzaktan eğitim sistemleri aracılığı ile gerçekleştirilmeye başlamıştır. Uzaktan eğitim, örgün eğitime göre farklı dinamikleri olan bir süreç olduğundan, daha önce tam zamanlı olarak uzaktan eğitim almamış öğrencilerin konuya ilişkin algılarının ölçülmesi gerektiği düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın temel amacı üniversitelerde havacılık eğitimi alan öğrencilerin uzaktan eğitim sistemlerine ilişkin algıları üzerindeki toplumsal yeteneğin etkisinde akademik kontrol odağının aracılık rolünün araştırılmasıdır. Söz konusu amacı gerçekleştirebilmek için araştırmanın verileri çeşitli üniversitelerde sivil hava ulaştırma işletmeciliği, sivil havacılık kabin hizmetleri ve havacılık yönetimi bölümlerinde eğitim gören kolayda örnekleme yöntemiyle seçilmiş 530 öğrenciden çevrimiçi anket aracılığı ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmada kullanılan ölçeklerin geçerlik ve güvenirlik analizleri yapılmış, bütün ölçeklerin geçerli ve güvenir olduğu görülmüştür. Toplanan verilere korelasyon analizi, basit doğrusal regresyon analizi ve hiyerarşik regresyon analizi uygulanmıştır. Verilerin analizi sonucunda toplumsal yetenek ile uzaktan eğitim algısı arasında, toplumsal yetenek ile akademik kontrol odağı arasında ve akademik kontrol odağı ile uzaktan eğitim algısı arasında anlamlı ilişkiler olduğu ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Araştırmanın diğer bir sonucuna göre toplumsal yeteneğin uzaktan eğitim algısı üzerindeki etkisinde, akademik kontrol odağının kısmi aracılık etkisi vardır. Bu bağlamda uzaktan eğitim sistemlerinin tasarlanmasında ve uygulanmasında öğrencilerin sosyal gezinme, sosyal varoluş, sosyal bağlantılılık, gizlilik algısı ve iletişim becerisi gibi toplumsal yeteneklerinin ve akademik başarılarını atfettikleri içsel ve dışsal faktörlerini ifade eden akademik kontrol odaklarının dikkate alınması gerektiği düşünülmektedir. Bu sayede uzaktan eğitim sistemlerinden beklenen faydaların elde edilebileceği düşünülmektedir